USD Grad & Law Commons

Finals are stressful. So are lengthy papers and class projects. We here at the grad law commons are stressed. Aren’t you? I’ve found that taking a breather is just what we need. For the past two finals periods, I’ve saved up and bought a body wrap/massage on bloomspot for the day after finals. Initially I bought it thinking that was the only day I had time to use it. But I’ve found it’s a great way to de-stress leading up to it. Not only do you have something to look forward to, and create positive energy within a lot of negativity and stress, but it also relieves the tension I’ve built up from countless days of staying up late at night cramming, studying, and worrying. It has also given me that fresh breath of air to start all the other things that come up during summer, whether it be a new job, summer school, moving into a new apartment, etc. I’ve found that one day has given me the energy to face all the things I’ve signed up for. And face it, we’re all overachievers, that’s why we signed up for more years of school.

Now I know not all of you are body wrap/massage people. But there are countless other activities that fit your preferences. Look on groupon, livingsocial, bloomspot, to name a few, for a fun activity that you’ll look forward to this finals season. Sign up for a cooking class, a fitness class or an outdoor activity, maybe even read a book that’s not school related. Do something you haven’t had time for during school, and when you’re going through finals, remind yourself of the amazing thing that’s waiting for you after. Reward yourself for sticking it through.

Unfortunately, the grad law commons will not be planning any fun activies during the summer, but we are open until the end of May. We also have great stress-relieving activities during finals week to take the edge off – massages and therapy dogs to name a few! So perhaps stop by after your finals and drink a fresh cup of gourmet coffee or participate in one of those activities, a few minutes may be all you need to change your perspective.

“Is it so small a thing To have enjoy’d the sun, To have lived light in the spring, To have loved, to have thought, to have done…” — Matthew Arnold

Spring is often categorized as the season of new beginnings. Flowers are blossoming, baby animals are being born, and the sun is starting to take over. Summer vacation and beach days are in sight. There is new life all around.

But for many people, Spring is leading towards even bigger changes. Many fellow graduate and law students are graduating from USD and heading out into the real world, ready to search for permanent jobs. Many first-year students and 1Ls are ready for a break, having survived their very first year. These changes will affect everyone, as I am sure each of us has a good friend, or a few,  who may be moving away from San Diego in pursuit of a career elsewhere.

But amidst the angst and anxiety of the looming Bar Exams and career searches, it is important to remember that it is not such a small thing to enjoy the sun and the light of the spring. We all share at least one thing in common – we all live in beautiful San Diego and attend one of the most beautiful campuses. Make sure to take the time to truly enjoy our city and indulge in the Spring weather.  Plan to take time out of your busy schedule to enjoy the outdoors with those you love.

Here are a few ways to do so:

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park presents Butterfly Jungle, March 16–April 7. During this four-week celebration, guests can walk through the Park’s Hidden Jungle, an African aviary, and surround themselves with thousands of butterflies of every shape, size and color.  A variety of butterfly species flutter freely throughout the Hidden Jungle along with more than 100 birds, creating a realistic rainforest environment.

On April 25–28, the San Diego Museum of Art blossoms during Art Alive 2013, an enchanting spring exhibition.  Transforming the museum into a colorful display of art and flowers, more than 100 floral designers take inspiration from the museum’s renowned art collection and create floral renditions of famous paintings and sculptures.

On April 21, EarthFair in Balboa Park celebrates a range of eco-friendly practices and environmental causes. Offerings include earth-friendly and organic foods, wildlife preservation education, displays of alternative energy vehicles, pet adoption services and more.

On May 5–6, the 29th Annual Old Town Fiesta Cinco de Mayo is held in Old Town State Historic Park along the area’s main thoroughfare, San Diego Avenue. The free festival features Mexican dancers, musicians, food and historical reenactments.

And, as always, the Graduate Law Commons is here for you. We have a new selection of coffee, plenty of study space, and the occasional treats for your relaxation and enjoyment. Come visit us in the Student Life Pavilion room 401.

by Kelcie Wiemann

Fear is something Nina Bahadur has struggled with since childhood. Recently, Bahadur was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder but her fight with fear can inform the struggles of those dealing with less clinical anxieties as well. “I would imagine that most young women my age are anxious. I see it in friends and acquaintances — the anxiety linked to pressure for perfection, wondering what comes next, and which decision is ‘right.’” And I too see such fear and anxiety among the many graduate and law students that I work with day after day. There is a constant concern for one thing or another that manifests in students in a variety of ways, and an unwillingness to admit to being afraid is just as common. Bahadur noted, “it’s fine to be angry at your roommate, or your terrible boss, things you can vent about. Anger makes it seem like we are in control. But it’s less fine to admit that you’re worried about your job or your friendships. There is this idea that anxiousness is weakness, that fear lessens us. We are only ‘allowed’ to be afraid of something dangerous, not of life itself.” But the fears I see on campus are, for the most part, entirely legitimate — piling student loans and general indebtedness, finding a job in the still struggling economy, strained relationships outside of school and work, strained relationships inside school and work, and the notorious law school curve name only a very few fears that I can honestly call my own. The kicker is that they are real fears, legitimate possibilities that need to be dealt with and the challenge is to accept them for what they are. Nothing is to be gained by stressing over them needlessly when nothing can be done about them now. But equally as true is that there is nothing to be gained by pretending they do not exist only to get bit later on down the road. For even fear has its uses, fear motivates and inspires, fear teaches humility and compassion. Fear is a tool and it should be used as such.

The key, according to Bahadur, is simply speaking about your fears, “I think that I lost a lot of things, not just by being anxious, but by being afraid to talk about my anxiety. Instead of being gentle with myself and asking others to understand, I was furious with myself for letting anxiety limit me.” Knowledge is power as they say and by speaking with others about our fears we have the opportunity to not only rob those fears of stigma (and the anxiety that inevitably attaches to that stigma), but also of finding solutions. And there won’t always be a solution; that I can promise each and every reader. But communication can offer a salve for the anxiety if not a solution to the ‘problem.’ Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. once analogized the law to a dragon in a cave, teaching generations of jurists that, “when you get the dragon out of his cave on to the plain and in the daylight, you can count his teeth and claws, and see just what is his strength. But to get him out is only the first step. The next is either to kill him, or to tame him and make him a useful animal.” I suspect fear may be thought of in the same way, a mysterious creature that tends to dominate and subjugate what it comes into contact with. But by speaking about our fears we may pull the monster apart, count his teeth and his claws, dissect and discover what the threat holds. Then it is up to us, as individuals, either to slay the beast or tame the dragon and make him useful.

Bahadur concluded by saying “I speak about my fear because I am tired of it, because I am reaching a place of peace with it, and because I want other people to hear what I’m saying — being anxious is not the same as being weak. We all experience it in different ways, but here is what I know about fear now that I’m 22: We don’t always have the option of saying “no” to feeling it, but we do always have the option of opening our mouths to say “I’m afraid.” And that could make all the difference.” And here is what I know about fear now that I’m 23: We do not always have the ability to dispel our fears and slay the dragon so to speak, but we do always have the choice to drag him out of the cave, count the claws and decide what to do with the bastard.

Footnote: The Graduate and Law Student Commons would like to challenge you to take the next step and talk about your fears with someone you respect and trust. Really think about what your fears accomplish and what they could accomplish if you put them to work. Do not let fear be fearful for its own sake, communicate and conquer!

For us graduate and law students, Valentine’s Day can be a very bitter-sweet holiday.  Many of us are so busy with school, internships, jobs, extracurricular activities, and trying not to overdraw from our checking account for the 5^th time this month, that we hardly spend any quality time with our family, friends, spouses, partners, and/or boyfriends and girlfriends. Many more of us are hundreds of miles away from those we love, pursuing our dreams among likeminded peers at the expense of distancing ourselves from those who matter most to us.  And unfortunately, it is likely that in the early years of our careers, we will have less and less time with those important people, which is why it is important to remember to fully appreciate the times we have with our loved ones, however little that time is.  It is all too easy to succumb to stress and allow it to distract and mislead us in all of the other spheres of our lives. I find myself worrying about finding a summer job while I’m trying to study for Civil Procedure, stressing about money when shopping for groceries, and worst of all, feeling guilty for not working on my research project all throughout the rare few hours that my mom and I are out to dinner. While our academic career is and should be very important, it is essential to make time for reconnecting with those we love and not allow our stress and worries to distract us from that time. When I start to focus on the people that matter most to me, I realize how counterproductive and unnecessary stress is, and I am more motivated to do my best in every area of my life.

For Valentine’s Day, come de-stress in the Graduate and Law Commons at the Valentine’s Day Party from 12:00-2:00pm in SLP 401. Create Valentine’s Day cards for your friends and leave in hand-crafted personalized V-Day Mailboxes, all supplies provided! Sweet treats will also be provided. 

Welcome back! We at the Graduate and Law Student Commons hope you had a wonderful break and memorable holidays. Although the school grind is once again upon us, the GLC wants to remind students about the importance of making and following through on New Year’s resolutions and, in that regard, even possibly offer some useful advice. With the proper choice, motivation, and follow-through, achieving your New Year’s resolution is entirely possible.

As an experienced resolution’er, I have found that the most underrated aspect in a New Year’s resolution is the resolution-choice. Following through on the resolution gets all the fame; it is fun to talk about the neighbor who swore off chocolate but quit after only eleven days. But can you imagine our chocolate-fiend going an entire year without chocolate? Can you imagine this student during finals!? Here at the GLC we preach moderation. Instead of swearing off chocolate, reduce chocolate consumption by 50%. In regards to follow-through, the key is persistence. As Mr. Thomas Edison stated, “essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are, first, hard work; second, stick-to-it-iveness.”

As fun as it is to discuss theory, one of the greatest parts of having a resolution is actually creating the resolution. My 2013 resolution is refraining from giving “courtesy laughs” (i.e. laughing at an unfunny joke because not doing so would be awkward or because you feel the need to brown-nose the speaker). Other great resolutions I have heard from students include “getting fit,” “engaging in more non-school related activities”, and “stop using my cat as an excuse for not having a boyfriend.” Whatever your resolution, we at the GLC wish you luck and a fantastic 2013!

Elections are fast approaching (November 6 to be exact), and the presidential candidate debates are set to go tonight at 6 p.m. With that in mind, citizens should start thinking about exercising their right to vote by registering to vote. It’s easy to forget, and a certain worker at the Grad Law Commons didn’t know you had to re-register even as a mail voter after moving. So, we’re making it easy to remember to register, vote, and study the views of the candidates to make a well-informed vote by providing websites and laying out the information for all on the election.

First off, there are events going on around campus:

• Debate Watching

1st Presidential Debate Watching Party
Topic: Domestic Policy
Tonight, October 3 from 5:30pm-8pm: UC Forum C

• VP debate

Topic: Foreign and Domestic Policy
October 11 from 5:30pm-8pm: UC 128

• Ballot Initiative Review

October 16 from 12:30-2pm: IPJ A/B

• Town meeting format

Topic: Foreign and Domestic Policy
October 16 from 5:30-8pm: UC Forum C

• Our Decision: Women & the Election 2012

October 29 from 6-7:30pm: Warren Auditorium

• Final Presidential Debate

Topic: Foreign and Domestic Policy
October 22 from 5:30-8pm: IPJ Theatre

After watching the debates and participating in the events on campus, you’ll be riled up to start voting.

• To register to vote on campus:

Voter Registration by The League of Women Voters
Tomorrow, October 4 from 12-2pm: Outside UC

Pick up a voter’s registration card at our very own Grad Law Commons during our hours of 9am-7pm, Monday through Friday, and mail it off!

• As a California voter, you can register to vote online here

• You may be able to apply to register to vote in person at the following public facilities:

• State or local voter registration and/or election offices
• The department of motor vehicles
• Public assistance agencies
• Armed services recruitment centers
• State-funded programs that serve people with disabilities
• Any public facility that a state has designated as a voter registration agency

• But hurry! The last day to register to vote in California is October 22.

Next, you’ll want to make a well-informed vote and keep track of a party once you’ve decided:

• http://www.gopconvention2012.com/
• http://www.demconvention.com/
• http://elections.nytimes.com/

Polls open November 6, so head to the polls then!

• Voters registered at 5998 Alcala Park can vote from 7am-8pm at the Alumni Center.

Finally, on Election Night, you can either view the elections at home or view it on campus:

• Election Night Viewing Party

November 6 from 4:30pm-9pm: UC Forums A & B
TVs, Refreshment, Trivia and more!

You’ll find more detailed information about voting at:

• www.sandiego.edu/vote

And if you vote, and your candidate doesn’t win, you could always just leave the country. Thanks to jetblue, they’re making it a possibility to leave in frustration: http://www.jetblueelectionprotection.com
With these options, it’s a win-win if you participate in the elections!

In between all of our studying and classes, there are a lot of ways to maintain health and wellness here at USD. You can learn more about these resources during our Wellness Day, Tuesday September 25^th in the Grad/Law Commons. While you are here, don’t forget to pick up a FREE care-package and participate in fun, stress-reducing activities! But ultimately, whether you take advantage of events at the Graduate and Law Student Commons, the Center for Health and Wellness, Disability Services, Outdoor Adventures, or Campus Recreation, sometimes, despite all our effort to stay active and stress free, we end up sick.

Every semester is the same. There is always that one day when the back of my throat starts to itch and I sneeze once or twice, and realize that I’ve caught what everyone else has! My friends start treating me like I have the Black Plague and want nothing to do with me for fear that they too will get sick. It’s at times like this when maintaining wellness is out the window, and you need some resources to get you BACK to your usual happy, healthy self.

I haven’t actually gotten sick yet this semester (knock on wood) but if I do, I know I can visit the NEW Student Health Center. The Student Health Center recently had its grand re-opening Friday September 7^th.  It is now located in Maher Hall Room 140 (the Northwest Corner of Maher) and is open Monday through Friday 8:30am-4:30pm (except Wednesdays from 11am-1pm starting September 26^th). All registered Graduate and Law Students, no matter what insurance policy, are eligible for services from the Student Health Center. Many of the services are free, and you don’t have to schedule an appointment (though you may want to, if you don’t want to wait). So, if you have that itchy throat feeling, or have been pegged by a softball, schedule an appointment at the new Student Health Center and get well soon!